Gran Canaria Crowned EuroCup Champion in Thrilling Final

Great Canary claimed the European Cup in a dramatic, hard-fought final on a Wednesday, marking the first continental title in its history. The clash against Ankara’s Türk Telekom was intense from the opening whistle, with the Claretian club eventually sealing a 71-67 victory after a display of poise under pressure in a packed arena.

American John Shurna finished with 18 points and 3 rebounds, earning MVP honors in a finale that showcased the Claretians’ versatile attack. His outside shooting supplied the decisive spark as Gran Canaria relied on balanced contributions from the rotation to offset a stubborn Turkish defense.

Gran Canaria began with energy, using a trio of Brussino, Slaughter, and Shurna to set the early tone. They jumped ahead in the shootout, taking a 9-2 lead before Ankara answered with a 0-8 burst that put pressure on the home side as Grant-Taylor combined for a 9-10 scoreline.

An unforgettable season was capped with a trophy lift for Gran Canaria. The team celebrated its EuroCup triumph with the hashtag 7DAYS EuroCup, as fans and players alike reflected on a campaign filled with memorable moments and hard-earned progress.

Shurna recital

The Claretians continued their rhythm from the perimeter, with Albicy stepping up to breathe new life into the offense as the hosts extended their lead to 19-12. Grant responded with baskets in the paint and mid-range drives, but the visitors still found themselves trailing. Brussino and Shurna carried the scoring load and helped Gran Canaria close the first period with a 29-23 edge from beyond the arc.

In the second period, Shurna added a jump shot and back-to-back threes, lifting the Turkish coach Erdem Can to call a timeout as the advantage swelled past ten points (37-24).

Albicy’s accuracy near halftime extended the lead to a five- or six-point margin as Gran Canaria entered the break with a 50-33 scoreline, using a shorter rotation to keep fresh legs on the floor.

With a thinner bench, Gran Canaria leaned on its starting unit to sustain momentum while Ankara’s bench depth felt the strain. The continued pressure allowed Gran Canaria to push clear and maintain a comfortable cushion as the game wore on.

20 point advantage

An alley-oop finished by Slaughter, set up by Balcerowski, highlighted Gran Canaria’s offense and contributed to a surge that left Ankara reeling. By the end of the third, Gran Canaria led 50-33, and the crowd in Gran Canaria Arena roared in recognition of a momentous achievement.

In the second half, Türk Telekom fought back with pressure on ball handlers and improved defense, while Jones found scoring rhythm to trim the margin. Still, Gran Canaria answered every challenge, with Bouteille and Sestina producing key threes to stretch the lead back to six as the final period approached.

The game remained tight as Gran Canaria clung to a margin around six, even as both teams traded punches and the tempo ebbed and flowed. Halves of intense, physical basketball defined the match, with the host team keeping just enough in the tank to keep Ankara at bay.

WHAT WAS THAT? A moment of chaos and focus crystallized into a turning sequence, as Albicy and the Gran Canaria squad navigated a late surge from their opponents while maintaining composure under pressure. The arena roared again as the local side held firm in the dying minutes.

final suffering

Gran Canaria remained defiant as Ankara pressed, with Grant and Diop trading baskets in a tense stretch. A late scoring burst by Shurna helped extend the lead to 67-62, a cushion that proved essential for the final outcome. Khalifa Diop’s exit due to foul trouble briefly shifted the dynamics, with Vitor Benite entering to keep the rotation intact. A blistering run from Gran Canaria, combined with a few costly Turkish errors, sealed the 71-67 victory and capped a historic continental campaign.

In the end, Gran Canaria’s resilience paid off. The 71-67 triumph completed a season defined by perseverance, teamwork, and a standout performance from the roster led by Shurna. The club earned its place as the continent’s new champion, a milestone reflected in the final scoreboard and celebrated by fans across the island and beyond.

Data sheet:

71. Great Canary (29+21+11+10): Albicy (13), Brussino (11), Slaughter (16), Shurna (18) and Balcerowski (5) -first team-; Inglis (6), K. Diop (-), Salvó (-), Bassas (-), Stevic (-) and Benite (2). Coach: Jaka Lakovic.

67. Turk Telekom (23+10+22+12): Taylor (4), Grant (16), Yılmaz (-), Bouteille (17) and Jones (17) –starter team- Erden (3), Sestina (7), Eric (-) and Yağmur (3). Instructor: Erdem Can.

referees: Sasa Pukl (Slovenia), Rain Peerandi (Estonia) and Adar Peer (Israel). Not deleted.

events: The match corresponding to the one-game EuroCup final, played in front of 9,869 spectators at the Gran Canaria Arena. Gran Canaria is the new champion of continental competition.